While you were sleeping: 14 March 2017

John Stupart

John Stupart

John Stupart is the editor of the African Defence Review. He has completed his masters in War Studies at Kings College and has blathered endlessly on several mediums on all things pertaining to African defence policy, strategic, operational and tactical challenges. Most importantly, he brings you DailyMaverick's First Thing daily newsletter each morning.

With 17 days before the current CPS contract dies a natural death, Sassa’s legal teams have worked overtime in an attempt to mop up the colossal mess caused through months of lies, deceit and obfuscation by the agency and Minister Bathabile Dlamini. On Monday, Sassa missed its deadline to answer ConCourt's detailed questions. This renders the agency technically in contempt of the highest court of the land.

Top White House aide Kellyanne Conway has admitted that there is zero evidence of any surveillance measures made against Donald Trump. Channelling her best possible village idiot impersonation, Conway went on to suggest that President Barack Obama may have used microwaves that, ahem, "turn into cameras" to spy on Trump. Any denials of said microwave-cameras will undoubtedly be branded fake news.

Turkish officials announced late on Monday that it is suspending top-level ties with the Netherlands. This comes in the wake of the Netherlands preventing pro-Erdogan rallies ahead of a referendum set to give the Turkish leader even greater powers. Dramatic footage of a Turkish minister's bodyguards being disarmed in the street hit social media almost as quickly as officials were severing ties.

A new study by health care analysts has estimated that 14-million Americans will be uninsured following the repeal of Obamacare. A study by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office made the announcement late on Monday, also warning that this figure could increase to 24-million by 2026. If not broadened, many Americans under Trump's health care system will be testing out "premature death" as an insurance alternative.

The United Kingdom's parliament gave final approval for Prime Minister Theresa May to trigger Article 50 and begin departure from the European Union. Almost immediately following this, Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon issued a resounding nay to such shenanigans, announcing her intention to hold a Scottish independence referendum, again, late next year.

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IN NUMBERS

13

The number of employees at Instagram at the time it was acquired by Facebook.

FACTS OF THE DAY

Today is White Day in Japan. This is seen as the accompaniment to Valentine's day, where Japanese men are expected to hand out white chocolate and flowers to their chosen Valentines.

Japan had a monster-collecting card game as far back as the Edo period (1603-1868).

John Stupart is the editor of the African Defence Review. He has completed his masters in War Studies at Kings College and has blathered endlessly on several mediums on all things pertaining to African defence policy, strategic, operational and tactical challenges. Most importantly, he brings you DailyMaverick's First Thing daily newsletter each morning.